Italy and Chile, the two fancied teams from Group B, produced yet another
thoroughly enjoyable affair with honours even at the Parc Lescure in Bordeaux.
Roberto Baggio, only playing due to Alessandro Del Pierro's groin injury,
produced a masterful performance capped by a brave equalising penalty to bury
the ghost of his shoot-out miss in the World Cup Final in Pasadena four years
ago. The Italians opened the scoring when Christian Vieri slotted nonchalantly
home on ten minutes following Maldini's pass and Baggio's lay-off, as Chile
struggled to show any fluency. Zamorano and Salas were starved of service but
showed glimpses of their striking prowess on a couple of occasions. Surprisingly
and against the run of play the South Americans equalised two minutes into
first-half stoppage time when Salas demonstrated his razor sharp goalscoring
instincts. The goal seemed to lift Chile who were a revitalised side after the break
and it was no surprise when Salas put them ahead with a stunning header just
five minutes into the second half. Italy's normally composed and solid back three
were strangely unsettled as the balance of play turned in favour of the Chileans.
However, an extremely harsh penalty decision gave Italy an unexpected
equaliser when Baggio's intended cross was accidentally handled by the
unfortunate Ronald Fuentes and Roberto Baggio made no mistake from the spot
with five minutes remaining. Overall a draw was possibly the fairest result and
Chile, on this showing especially, could be the surprise package in France 98.

(1-0) Vieri (10). Maldini's pinpoint 40-yard pass found Roberto Baggio whose delightful first-time lay-off into the path
of his strike partner was coolly slid home left-footed from the edge of the box just beyond 'keeper
Tapia's right hand.

(1-1) Salas, Marc (45). Estay drove in Chile's first corner of the game in first-half stoppage time and Zamorano's downward
header rebounded off Reyes to the striker who swivelled to lash home a left-footed shot into the roof of
the net from five yards.

(2-2) Baggio, R (85, pen). The Italian striker's attempted cross was accidentally handled on the right edge of the area by Fuentes
and from a very harshly awarded spot-kick Roberto Baggio stepped up to slot home right-footed
underneath Tapia who dived to his right.

(1-2) Salas, Marc (50). A long deep cross from the right was aimed at the £15 million man who produced a prodigious leap to
outjump Cannavaro at the far post and head home gloriously, high past Pagliuca's right hand from
eight yards.